Travel Insurance and Coronavirus
Discussion
Looking for advice please:
Supposed to be going to Norway next week for a week. Norwegian Government has just issued instruction that any visitors from non-Nordic countries must on arrival go into 14 days quarantine.
Travel insurance company says because neither UK nor Norwegian Governments are saying don't travel they wont cover any losses, travel company is saying the same and that all cancellations had to be at least 20 days before travel.
It seems like we're stuffed on recovering costs??
Edit; whole holiday was booked on credit card, might that be a route??
Supposed to be going to Norway next week for a week. Norwegian Government has just issued instruction that any visitors from non-Nordic countries must on arrival go into 14 days quarantine.
Travel insurance company says because neither UK nor Norwegian Governments are saying don't travel they wont cover any losses, travel company is saying the same and that all cancellations had to be at least 20 days before travel.
It seems like we're stuffed on recovering costs??
Edit; whole holiday was booked on credit card, might that be a route??
Edited by nc107 on Thursday 12th March 17:03
Edited by nc107 on Thursday 12th March 17:03
covid-19 virus and each country going his own way in terms of "protection" looks at the end of the day everywhere the same:
protection in a way that in the first step the governemnt / bancs / insurances dos not need to cover any loss
travelers are subject to quaranaine after arrival -- so hiloday in quarantain....and you even paid for it
workers should stay at home -- but the company should pay them
protection in a way that in the first step the governemnt / bancs / insurances dos not need to cover any loss
travelers are subject to quaranaine after arrival -- so hiloday in quarantain....and you even paid for it
workers should stay at home -- but the company should pay them
We have asked.
I have just spoken to the company involved (Fjord Tours) and they have said they are hoping to be able to confirm full refunds (said we should know in next 72 hours); apparently Norwegian Government is backing some scheme that will allow some form of refund. So maybe we will get some back.
I have just spoken to the company involved (Fjord Tours) and they have said they are hoping to be able to confirm full refunds (said we should know in next 72 hours); apparently Norwegian Government is backing some scheme that will allow some form of refund. So maybe we will get some back.
nc107 said:
Unfortunately all separate; flights Ryan air, hotels through booking.com and the trip around Norway (train, hiking, ferry & cruise) via an off-shoot of the Norwegian Tourist Board.
Trying to see if we can get something back from the Norwegian Tourist Board today, but not hopeful.
I thought you could cancel Booking.Com bookings?Trying to see if we can get something back from the Norwegian Tourist Board today, but not hopeful.
With any luck the flights will be cancelled due to lack of demand although I suppose RyanAir won't care if most seats have already been paid for.
Travel Insurance does seem to be massive grey area when stuff happens - went thought a load of hassle with the ash cloud a few years ago. In the end our flight to the US did go - but we'd had such a lot of back and forth with the Axa (bought through JohnLewis) over whether they would cover that event they refunded us the whole cost when we got back.
Sheepshanks said:
I thought you could cancel Booking.Com bookings?
Generally you pay extra for the security. Room rate of £400, but cannot be cancelled, becomes £450 with the option of cancelling up to 2 days before travel. Depends on their 'availability' whether both options are available.nc107 said:
Looking for advice please:
Supposed to be going to Norway next week for a week. Norwegian Government has just issued instruction that any visitors from non-Nordic countries must on arrival go into 14 days quarantine.
Travel insurance company says because neither UK nor Norwegian Governments are saying don't travel they wont cover any losses, travel company is saying the same and that all cancellations had to be at least 20 days before travel.
It seems like we're stuffed on recovering costs??
Edit; whole holiday was booked on credit card, might that be a route??
I would be straight onto the credit card issuer. I would think you're covered. It's not about cancellation. With holidays you are covered if your holiday is not 'as described'. Going into a 14 day quarantine is not 'as described'. You are classed as an independent traveller and will have contracts with different vendors. Good luck, what a ball acheSupposed to be going to Norway next week for a week. Norwegian Government has just issued instruction that any visitors from non-Nordic countries must on arrival go into 14 days quarantine.
Travel insurance company says because neither UK nor Norwegian Governments are saying don't travel they wont cover any losses, travel company is saying the same and that all cancellations had to be at least 20 days before travel.
It seems like we're stuffed on recovering costs??
Edit; whole holiday was booked on credit card, might that be a route??
Edited by nc107 on Thursday 12th March 17:03
Edited by nc107 on Thursday 12th March 17:03
speedking31 said:
Sheepshanks said:
I thought you could cancel Booking.Com bookings?
Generally you pay extra for the security. Room rate of £400, but cannot be cancelled, becomes £450 with the option of cancelling up to 2 days before travel. Depends on their 'availability' whether both options are available.I took out "adverse risk" as part of out travel insurance. I'm only writing this, to advise others- reading this post, it might be worth adding on.- think is was only £15 more.
out spanish hol in June could well be cancelled, so trying to ensure we're covered- ditto there is the credit card route also for protection.
out spanish hol in June could well be cancelled, so trying to ensure we're covered- ditto there is the credit card route also for protection.
Yes, something we should have thought about at the time (lesson learnt)...I think most insurers have now withdrawn that facility (or at least caveated contagious diseases) so can't get it now.
However, the good news......been informed this afternoon that we will be refunded in full in next 7 days by the company we booked through; so bit of a result there methinks!
Now to find somewhere else to go....
However, the good news......been informed this afternoon that we will be refunded in full in next 7 days by the company we booked through; so bit of a result there methinks!
Now to find somewhere else to go....
nc107 said:
Yes, something we should have thought about at the time (lesson learnt)...I think most insurers have now withdrawn that facility (or at least caveated contagious diseases) so can't get it now.
Even if you could still get it, it wouldn't cover anything Coronavirus related as it's already known about.Sheepshanks said:
nc107 said:
Yes, something we should have thought about at the time (lesson learnt)...I think most insurers have now withdrawn that facility (or at least caveated contagious diseases) so can't get it now.
Even if you could still get it, it wouldn't cover anything Coronavirus related as it's already known about.If I book today, to travel to the states and tomorrow they ban that travel, or advise against it. I am covered. Coronavirus is known, but the travel ban arising from it isn't.
Graveworm said:
If I book today, to travel to the states and tomorrow they ban that travel, or advise against it. I am covered. Coronavirus is known, but the travel ban arising from it isn't.
No you are not. Most policies will have an exclusion for Government intervention which this would be classified as - just returned from Italy so I know the details. Read the Catrostrophe and Disruption sections of any policy. You will need enhanced cover for any cover for the current situation.I recently came back from Asia on a Southern China Airlines flight and the agency here I bought it the ticket from were hopeless, would not answer emails or the phone about refunds.
Southern Air told me their policy was even though I had a non refundable ticket, they would fully refund it BUT it has to go through the agency....and not all of those are likewise waiving their 100-200 quid 'admin' charges.
I ended up flying back as they re-routed me.
So I would check with the airlines and if they are doing the same, put this to the ticketing agency and ask them to do the right thing and pass on the full refund minus a tenner for their 'hard work'....
Your worry is of course now with the extra panic and airlines losing tons of cash, they might not be very willing to hand any back. But worth a try.
Southern Air told me their policy was even though I had a non refundable ticket, they would fully refund it BUT it has to go through the agency....and not all of those are likewise waiving their 100-200 quid 'admin' charges.
I ended up flying back as they re-routed me.
So I would check with the airlines and if they are doing the same, put this to the ticketing agency and ask them to do the right thing and pass on the full refund minus a tenner for their 'hard work'....
Your worry is of course now with the extra panic and airlines losing tons of cash, they might not be very willing to hand any back. But worth a try.
CarbonV12V said:
Graveworm said:
If I book today, to travel to the states and tomorrow they ban that travel, or advise against it. I am covered. Coronavirus is known, but the travel ban arising from it isn't.
No you are not. Most policies will have an exclusion for Government intervention which this would be classified as - just returned from Italy so I know the details. Read the Catrostrophe and Disruption sections of any policy. You will need enhanced cover for any cover for the current situation.Edited by Graveworm on Saturday 14th March 09:11
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